Portable hydraulic stretcher.



E. TAYLR. PORTABLEv HYDRAULIC STRETCH-BR.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZ?, 1914.

B. TAYLOR. PORTABLE HYDRAULIC SIRBTGHER.'

APPLICATION FILEB MAB..27,1914.

r Z SHEETS WITNESSES:

TTORNE YS.

IVARD TAYLOBQOF GWENSBGRU, KENTUCKY.

PORTABLE HYDEAULEC STRETCHER.

Lilith/.838.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led March 27, 19M;1 Seria'l No. 827,669.

To all 'whom z'tmay concern Be it Aknown that I, EDWARD TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Owensboro, in the county of Daviess and such as will enablev othersl skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. y

l In the field of stretchers for hospitals and sanitariums, 'this invention seeks'to provide one .of the portable hydraulic kind which combines the greatest utility with the simplest and strongest mechanical structure.

rhis stretcher is capable of suiiicient vertical adjustment to permit it being lowered to the lowest lbed .or raised to thehighest operating table, and as this adjustment 1s effected by hydraulic means, shocks and jars 'are rendered impossible. Extensive lateral movement of the stretcher to either side of the truck is provided and this facilitates the removal of patients from their bed to the stretcher and the reverse. Despite its lateral movement, the stretcher may be securely locked in the center of its truck,`and" all patients are thus insured safe transit with its use. The truck which, with the stretcher,

A forms the basis ot' this specification is designed to have the fewest parts consistent with strength and rigidity. These parts are so arran ed and proportioned as to eradicatev all ust-collecting places and to renderr the stretcher valuable from a sanitary standpoint. v

The device, herewith illustrated, is thought 'to embody the most eiicie'nt designbut the inventor reserves the right to alter or change this design to conform to any subsequent design that does not depart from the spirit of what is claimed..

1n the drawings -Figure l isa longitudi-k nal elevation ot the invention. Fig. 2 is an endn elevation, showing in dotted lines the vertical and lateral adjustments. Fig. 3 is a plan of the stretcher. Fig. lilis a plan of the spring lock which holds the stretcher in the center 4of itstruck. Fig; 5 isa vertical section through the hydraulic lift llooking from the operating handle end.` Figa` 6 is a part elevation and part section oit.'l the major plunger 1M. Fig. 7 is a section show-Jpg the top of the oil chamberofv the hydraulle litt.l Figs. d, 5, 6 and 7 are enlarged views.-

lIn the stretcher truck the frame is made entirely -of pipe, the longitudinal pieces 1 connecting to the curved end pieces 2 by means of the pipe elbows 3. These end pieces 2 are curved so as to provide clearance space for the casters 4. .Two arcuate pieces 5 are connected in the middle of the frame by the ties 6 and Athese pieces form a su'pport to which .the hydraulic lift 7 is bolted or screwed. The principal weight of the truck is sustained by the cross piece 8 which is upturned-at the edge of the frame and bent back at its extremities to form the U- shaped portions 9 wherein the wheels l0 are secured 1n any suitable manner. This cross piece is preferably made of channel iron, as the flanges of such iron constitute desirable strengthening ribs after the piece has been bent into the shape described. The curved pieces 2 are screwed into the socket members 11 to which the caster forks 12 with their casters 4 are swivelly connected.

At the top of hydraulic vbase 7 the ,stretcher and its concomitant parts are vsecured. Mounted on support 14 is a board 15 at each end-of which is a Ichannel piece 16 whose flanges 17 have inserted through them the shafts 18 that carry the rollers' 19. These rollersl 19 are adapted to turn inthe slots 2U of the depending' pieces 21 attached to the stretcher 22. Stretcher .22 comprises a trame (preferably metal)`4 covered vwithcanvas and having grab handles 23 at each corner and straps 2,4: at intermediate points on itslength. These straps serve to secure patients to the stretcher. At ythe center yis a loch'.4 25 for holding'they stretcher in place on its truck. This lock has a case" 26 in the bottom of which is a slot 27 wherein a plunger 28 slides. In a slot in this `pluri er the tuinblers 29 and 30 rest being pivotel to the 'ca-se26 on opposite sides of the plunger and having rounded noses 31 and 32., which protrude through' the case.V A spring 38 presses against the tumbler 29 which in turn presses against the tumbler 30 causing the plunger 28 to proj eet its required distance out of the case. A cover 34 incloses the case and the whole is secured to the under side ot the stretcher 22 in any appropriate manner (not shown). Associated with the lochI 25 is a keeper 35 screwed .to the board 15. This keeper has a slot 36 to be engaged by the end ot the plunger 28 and agroove 3? wherein the rounded noses 31 .and 32 slide. The sliding of the noses in the groove? presses back ldd . the spring 33 and with it the plunger 28 31 and 32. The plunger 28 then rests .on the until the eper 35 is between the two noses e'dge of the keeper 35 until it is in position to engage the slot 36. A string 38 connected to the `tumbler 29 passes through the hole 39 in the lock case to the end of the. stretcher and serves as` a meansfor unlocking the I stretcher.

When it -is desired to shift the stretcher to either side of the truck the cord 38 is pulled.

This moves the tumbler 29 back and withl it the plunger 28 releasing said plunger from the slot 36. The stretcher is then -free to move onthe rollers 19 to-either side of the truck and any distance within the capacityl of the slots ?The' tumbler 30 is pivoted at upon one side of' the plunger, the tumbler 29 ispivoted at 29a upon the opposite sideof the plunger or bolt. When the string 3 8 is pulled, the tumbler 29 is oscillated' upon its pivot .a anst the action of the'springs 33, and owing to the fact that both tumblers 29 and 30 pass through the.

readily removed from the stretcher to an op-l eratingtable and vice versa. When it is de-` y sired to return the stretcher to its normal central position, it is accomplished by simply pushing it toward the center, thereby causone or the'other of said noses 31 or 32 in ".cepending on which side of the center the stretcher happens' to be) to .engage the groove 37. When one or the other of said noses 31 and 32 engage the groove 37, its res ective tumbler is oscillated upon its pivot (w ich pivot is carried by the casing 26), and owin to both tumblers boing extended through t e plunger or bolt, they are both oscillated laterally a ainst the action of the spring 33, carrying t e plunger or bolt with them. In pushing the' stretcher toward -the center, the bolt or plunger will automatically extend into the slot 36 substantially immediatelyafter either one ofsaid noses 31 and 32 leaves the oove 37, thereby holding the stretcher loc ed in its central posit1on.

1n thehydraulic lift the base 40 is attached by appropriate bolts or screws to the arcu- 5. It is counter-bored at 41 to ate pleces Integral make room for the check valve 42.

`with 40 is the external oil chamber 43.

(This is called an oil chamber because cil is thought to be the most satisfactory liquid for operating the device; oil having both lubricating properties and a low evaporating point. Any other satisfactory li uid may, however, be substituted). Protru ing from .the oil chamber is the major plunger 44 terminating at its upper end in the support..l4 and having at its. lower extremity the iston 45 to which the valve '42 is at- -tache bythe bolts 46. Thebolts 46 do not hold the valve 42 solidly against the piston 45 but permit it to have alslight vertical 1novement-tl1ereon.` The major plunger 44 is hollowedout at its center and ports communicate between this interior and the interior of the chamber 43. Internal to and concentric withthe plunger 44 is minor plunger 48 with a pilot 49 that projects through an oil tight hole in the'v valve 42.l

At its upper end 48 is connected to the operating lever rod 50 by means of the link" `51 and eccentric 52. A suitable bearing 53 for the rod 50 is cast `integral with the plunger 44 and a further 'supportingbearing 54 is attached to the under side of theboard The rod 50 terminates in the upturned liandle 55. With the handle 55 inthe posltion as shown in Fig. 1, the plunger 48 may be said to be at its neutral point.' Moving the handle toward the observer will lower plunger 48 movin it away from lthe observer will raise it. n its downward stroke from the neutral point, the plunger l48 is de` signed to close the orts'47 during the greater part of the stro ze, the pilot 49 the while sliding through and keeping closed the hole in the check valve 42.y On its upward stroke from the .neutral point, the pilot 49 is withdrawn from the valve 42, thus allowing Whatever oilthat may be below the piston 45 to flow into the upper-part of the chamber 43 'as the piston settles down. A round key 56 attached to the chamber 43 at :the point where the plunger 44 enters the chamber is adapted to" engage the keyway 57 thus preventing the plunger 44 (and with it the stretcher) from turning with respect to the chamber. With the stretcher in the position shown in Fig. 1, the piston 45 is at the bottom of the chamber 43, and the oil (with which said chamber should be lled) is all on top of said iston. .With the handle 55 vertical the ottom of the minor plunger 48 is above the ports 47 so that oil is permitted to flow' in between the plunger 48 and check valve 42. If the handle 55 is pulled "toward the observer, th rod '50 communicates the motion to the eccentric 52 which in turn communicates it to the plunger 48 by means of the link 51. As soon as the end. of the plunger- 48 khas passed the ports 47, the resultant ressure on the oil below thel plunger 48 'orces thecheck valve 42 open and transfers the .oil below the piston 45, thus raising it 'withfall its'attendant parts. The handle -55 transfer of 'ell the oil loelow the piston e5 at which time the plunger i4 (eind the stretcher connect/eel to it) will loe et its highest pointn 'lo lower, theliandle 55 is movecl sway from the observer. The eccentric 52 then turning; im the opposite direction than previously lifts the plunger e8 eno with it the `pilot e9 eleove the neutral point, the pilotl 4:9 leaving its hole in the checlr valve 41:2, Egress being thus eorded :for the oil loelow the piston9 it continues to How in on top of said piston es the piston and its perte from their ovm Weight clescerlol. Returning serielle 55 to e. Vertical position terminates this operation y ley returning tlie pilot l@ to its hole the checlr velt/e The invention hei/ieg been set cleiroel new esel .z 'l "7 i" V E. l. 7 tical s cljus sitting iste toller5 rio pieces two intermecliete arcuate ribs; e lift riiountecl on seicl ribsrl e laterally adjustable stretcher supported, by seiel lift.,

`3. ln e. stretcher, e truclr9 composecl oil frame amel a transversely disposed Wheel supporting member lirectecl upwerol et each side of the truck and then bent, beck on its sell to form suitable meeris of coli- :section to the Wheels, Wheels comlectecl to said Wheel supporting member, sWiVeleel casters et each end of the truck, e lift supported in the middle of the truclr5 verticslly and laterally adjustable stretcher supported by seid lift.

l. l'ri e stretcher, e truck, e lift ori seiol truck., a stretcher carried by seicl lift, .means permitting the stretcher to be movefl latereutomaticelly locking the stretcher iii the center of the truck.

5. ln e stretcher, e, truck having channels? ineens permitting lateral movement of the stretcher, seid meeris comprising deigescling slotted members operating on rollers mounted in seid clienriels, e. locking device or holding the stretcher stationery ori its truck.

6. le stretcher e trliclr7 e lift on. seid e supporting member ori seicl lili?,a the supporting el, rollers in these channels, depend slotted members operating ore these rollers, s stretcher securecl to the depenaling members, e locking device for liololirig the stretcher stationery on its supporting; memloer.

ln testimony whereof l here sigriecl my name to this specicetion in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses Grover: D. HILL, BEN Nm.

elly to either side othe truck, e, device for f 

